INSTRUCTOR RATING

What is it?

One of the best ways to not only build flight hours, but challenge yourself and become a better pilot, is by becoming a flight instructor. There are a few different flight instructor ratings: Certified Flight Instructor (Single engine aircraft teaching private, commercial, flight reviews, and many other things; Instrument Flight Instructor (Teaching others to fly in the clouds) and Multi-Engine Flight Instructor (Teaching in planes with more than one engine). Teaching will definitely build your skill, make you learn even more than you thought you would, and the ratings also look quite nice on the resume.

What to expect:

STEP ONE

Ground School: Complete an online or in person ground school and learn how to present and teach the information that you already know about flying to others.

STEP TWO

Written Exams: There are multiple written exams needed to become a flight instructor. The first is the Fundamentals of Instruction exam. After that there is a Flight Instructor exam and an Instrument Flight Instructor exam depending on which rating you seek.

STEP THREE

Flight Instruction: Get used to flying from the right seat and hone your teaching skills while you learn to teach various takeoffs, landings, maneuvers and approaches.

STEP FOUR

Checkride: The CFI checkride is one of the longest and most difficult because it is so comprehensive. It also has one of the highest fail rates. The oral portion of your checkride consists of you teaching ground school on many different topics to the examiner. The flight portion consists of you teaching your "student" (examiner) in the airplane. Different examiners do things differently but overall you will not only demonstrate maneuvers as you teach them, but you will also coach the student (examiner) as they fly the plane (and maybe even make some mistakes for you to correct).

STEP FIVE

Time to teach! Now that you are a Certified Flight Instuctor, you can begin to get paid to teach (and learn)! You can work for a flight school, flying clubs, or teach independently in privately owned aircraft. There are many teaching options available to fit your schedule and lifestyle.